m, who landed here
on his expedition to Ireland. In 1760 it was surprised by a French
squadron under Commodore Thurot, who landed with about 1000 men, and,
after holding the place for a few days, evacuated it on the approach of
the English troops. Eighteen years later Paul Jones, in his ship the
"Ranger," succeeded in capturing the "Drake," a British sloop-of war, in
the neighbouring bay; but he left without molesting the town. In the
reign of Queen Elizabeth the town obtained a charter, and this was
confirmed by James I., who added the privilege of sending two burgesses
to the Irish parliament. The corporation, however, was superseded, under
the provisions of the Municipal Reform Act of 1840, by a board of
municipal commissioners. Carrickfergus was a parliamentary borough until
1885; and a county of a town till 1898, having previously (till 1850)
been the county town of county Antrim. But its importance was sapped by
the vicinity of Belfast, and its historical associations are now its
chief interest.

CARRICKMACROSS, a market town of Co. Monaghan, Ireland, in the south
parliamentary division, 68 m. N.W. of Dublin on a branch of the Great
Northern railway. Pop. of urban district (1901) 1874. It has a pleasant,
elevated site, a considerable agricultural trade, and a famous
manufacture of lace, which is carried on in various conventual
establishments. There are some remains of an Elizabethan castle, a seat
of the earls of Essex, which was destroyed during the wars of 1641; the
ruins of the old church of St Finbar commemorate the same disastrous
period.

CARRICK-ON-SHANNON, a market town and the county town of Co. Leitrim,
Ireland, in the south parliamentary division, beautifully situated on
the left bank of the upper Shannon, between Loughs Allen and Boderg,
close to the confluence of the Boyle. Pop. (1901) 1118. It is on the
Sligo branch of the Midland Great Western railway, 90 m. W.N.W. of
Dublin, the station being across the river in county Roscommon. Though
having so small a population it is the largest town in the county, is
the seat of the assizes, and has quays and some river trade. The
surrounding country, with its waterways, loughs and woods, is of
considerable beauty.

CARRICK-ON-SUIR, a market town of Co. Tipperary, Ireland, in the east
parliamentary division, on the north (left) bank of the Suir, 14-1/4 m.
W.N.W. from Waterford by the Waterford & Limerick line of the Great
Southern & West